Interview: My Apprenticeship, The Starting Point

Tuesday 28th August 2018




Name:

Tom Fletcher

 

Apprenticeship:

Mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering apprenticeship, which after five years are all now complete.

 

Claim to fame:

I was on television, appearing on the news a long time ago!

 

What made you choose to do an apprenticeship?

 

The main reason I decided to leave my job as a machinist making Crankshafts for ships and started an apprenticeship was because I wanted to and needed to provide for my family. At 22 I was married and at 21 I had my first child. I wanted to have a career and as soon as I started my apprenticeship I realised education was fundamental and crucial for this to happen.

Education has opened up so many doors for me and I now have these qualifications:

Mechanical Engineering Level 2

Mechanical Engineering NVQ Level 3

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Level 3

Electrical and Electronic Engineering NVQ Level 3

Electrical and Electronic Engineering HNC (to complete 2018/19)

Hydraulics Stage 1

CETOP Hydraulics level 1

PLC programming course

 

What was the best thing about your apprenticeship?

 

I am now looking to go to open university to further my Engineering studies.  Even though I wanted to be an astronaut as a child I am happy that my future is still taking off thanks to my apprenticeship!

 

What three things would you want with you on a desert island?

 

  • Boat
  • Family
  • Food

 

What would your advice be to young people thinking about doing an engineering apprenticeship?

 

I think it’s okay to not be great at school, many people find their talents later on in life. There’s lots of apprenticeships out there, so I would definitely advise school kids to Google them and find them!

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